Aircraft disinsection insecticides

Overview

International air travel carries the risk of inadvertent transport of mosquito vectors (and the diseases they transmit) into countries where they were not previously found. One method specified in the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) to counter this risk is spraying of insecticides on board aircraft – a process known as aircraft disinsection – for which WHO has published guidance to assist Member States.

In 2013, WHO published a human health risk assessment model for insecticides used in aircraft. The process of developing the model included a period of public comment and peer review, a Stakeholder workshop and a meeting of technical experts convened by WHO. In addition to the risk assessment model, the publication also includes an evaluation of product types available at that time or in development, using the criteria specified in the model.

Since 2017, evaluation of insecticides to be used for aircraft disinsection has been undertaken by the vector control products group of the WHO Prequalification Team.